Attachment Disorder Checklist

Written by Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D.

Tuesday, 03 February 2009 10:09 - Last Updated Sunday, 19 April 2009 09:03

A professional assessment is necessary to determine whether or not a child has an Attachment

disorder. At the Center we use several tests as part of a comprehensive assessment to
determine what attachment issues are causing problems and what will be the most effective
treatment plan. We work very closely with the parents to develop a plan to help remediate
attachment problems. This check list can help you identify areas of potential problem. This
check list is not meant to substitute for a professional assessment and treatment plan.

Circle the items if they are frequently or often true.

1. My child teases, hurts, or is cruel to other children.

2. My child can't keep friends for an age-appropriate length of time.
3. My child doesn't do as well in school as my child could do even with a little more effort.
4. My child pushes me away or becomes stiff when I try to hug, unless my child wants
something from me, in which case my child can be affectionate and engaging.
5. My child argues for long periods of time, often about meaningless or silly things.
6. My child has a large need to control everything.
7. My child is hyper-vigilant.
8. My child acts amazingly innocent, or pretends that things aren't really bad or a problem
when caught doing something wrong.
9. My child does dangerous things such as runs away, jumps out of windows, or other
potentially harmful actions. My child seems oblivious to the fact that my child may be hurt.
10. My child deliberately breaks or ruins his things or other's things.
11. My child doesn't seem to feel age-appropriate guilt when my child does something
wrong.
12. My child is impulsive. My child seems unable or unwilling to stop doing something my
child wants to do.
13. My child teases, hurts, or is cruel to animals.
14. My child steals, or shows up with things that belong to others with unbelievable, unusual,
or suspicious reasons for how my child got these things.
15. My child likes to sneak things without permission, even though my child could have had
these things if my child had asked.
16. My child doesn't seem to learn from mistakes, consequences, or punishments (my child
continues the behavior despite the consequences).
17. My child makes false reports of abuse or neglect. My child tries to get sympathy from
others, or tries to get us in trouble, by telling others that I abuse, don't feed, or don't provide the
basic necessities.
18. My child seems not to experience pain when hurt, refusing to let anyone provide
comfort.
19. My child does not usually ask for things. My child demands things.
20. My child lies, often about obvious or ridiculous things, or when it would have been easier
to tell the truth.

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Attachment Disorder Checklist

Written by Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D.

Tuesday, 03 February 2009 10:09 - Last Updated Sunday, 19 April 2009 09:03

21. My child is quite bossy with other children and adults.

22. My child hoards, sneaks food, or has other unusual eating habits (eats paper, raw sugar,
non-food items, package mixes, baker's chocolate, etc.)
23. My child often does not make eye contact when adults want to make eye contract with
my child.
24. My child has extended temper tantrums.
25. My child chatters non-stop, asks repeated questions about things that make no sense,
mutters, or is hard to understand when talking.
26. My child is accident-prone (gets hurt a lot), or complains a lot about every little ache and
pain (needs constant attention).
27. My child acts cute or charming to get others to do what my child wants.
28. My child is overly friendly with strangers.
29. My child has set fires, or is preoccupied with fire.
30. My child prefers to watch violent cartoons and/or TV shows or horror movie (regardless
of whether or not you allow your child to do this).
31. My child was abused/neglected during the first year of life, or had several changes of
primary caretaker during the first several years of life.
32. My child was in an orphanage for more than the first year of life.
33. My child was adopted after the age of twelve months.

If you find that more than a few items (more than five or so) have been circled, your child may
be experiencing difficulties that require professional assistance. If, in addition to several items
being marked, any of the last three items is check, your child may be experiencing attachment
related problems.

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